Happiness is a funny thing: the more you look for it, the less you find it and the unhappier a person becomes.  Joy is rooted in God and not circumstances. 

• Look back joyfully: Paul wrote from jail yet he said he thanked God for his memories of the Philippian church. Paul had challenging times in Philippi but joy lets us look back on events in life and see the good
• Live now confidently: Paul was unsure of his condition – life in a Roman jail was unpredictable. The fellowship with the Philippians let him live confidently, knowing they were supporting him
• Look forward hopefully: Because Paul’s fellowship with the Philippians was based on the Lord, he prayed for their wellbeing. Being happy for others when we are suffering is one of the hardest things to do, joy in the Lord makes it possible

 (Verses cited: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 33:21; Matthew 5:3-4; Philippians 4:4; Acts 16:33, 22-23; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 4:2; Genesis 2:18; Hebrews 12:2; John 14:2)